Safety appliance



Dec. 17, 1929. A. BURTON SAFETY APPLIANCE Filed May 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet A. L. BURTON SAFETY APPLIANCE Filed May 14. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Eli) Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES FFEQE SAFETY APPLIANCE Application filed ma 14,

This invention relates to a safety appliance for the control valves of oxygen tanks and has for one of its objects the provision of means for preventing the free operation of the tank control valve when the pressure regulator is open.

Another object is to provide a safety appliance of this class that may be readily attached to the standard oxygen tanks without alteration of any of the tank parts.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the upper end of an oxygen tank having the safety mechanism of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan View thereof.

Figure 3 is an elevation taken at right angles to that of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the safety mechanism in released position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates a standard oxygen tank which,together with its standard equipment of valves and controls, is shown in dotted lines. The tank A is provided with the usual outlet conduit 2 to which a control valve 3 is secured. The valve 3 is adapted to be manually operated by a hand-wheel 4. A conduit 5 leads from the valve 2 into a pressure regulator 6 which is provided with a threaded operating stem 7, having a handle portion 8, and adapted to be screwed in and out to operate the regulator.

An outlet conduit 9 leads from the regulator 6 to which a hose 10 is secured to conduct the oxygen to a point of use.

A high pressure indicator 12 is mounted on and has its stem portion 14 communicating with the conduit 5, and a low pressure indicator 15 is mounted on and has its stem 16 communicating with the outlet conduit 9.

The above described apparatus is all standard equipment, commonly used for controlling the fiow' of oxygen from oxygen tanks and, therefore, will not be described further in detail.

It is important, from a safety standpoint, to operate the oxygen control valve 3 and regulator 6 in the proper order; that is, the regulator should always be closed when the 1928. Serial No. 277,681.

control valve is opened. If the regulator 6 is not closed when the valve 3 is opened, the full tank pressure will be thrown suddenly on the regulator, causing damage to the regulator, and possibly an explosion.

In order to prevent the operation of the control valve 3 when the regulator 6 is open, I have provided means for covering the handwheel 4 of the control valve when the regulator 6 is open.

A clamp-bracket 18 is secured to the stem portion 14 of the high pressure indicator 12, and a fulcrum lever 19 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on said bracket. An operating lever 20 has one end terminating in a ring-like seat 20 and adapted to be fitted over the threaded stem 7 of the pressure regulator 6.

A coiled spring 21 is mounted around the stem 7 between the face of the seat 20 and the body of the regulator, so as to compel the lever to follow the in and out movement of the stem 7.

The other end of the lever 20 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the fulcrum lever 19. A cover supporting lever 22 has one end fixedly secured to the upper end of the fulcrum lever 19 so as to form, in effect, an extension thereof, and has its other end extending into close proximity to the handwheel 4 of the valve 8, and terminating in a flattened attaching lug 23.

An inverted dish-shaped cover member 24, having an attaching lug portion 25, is attached to the lug 23 of the lever 22 by a hinge member 26. A spring 27 is provided for normally maintaining the cover 24 in extended position.

In operation, the regulator stem 7 is adapted to be screwed outwardly to close the regulator and to be screwed inwardly to open the regulator. YVhen the stem 7 is screwed inwardly to open the regulator, the lever 20 will be compelled to automatically follow the stem 7 and will rock the lever 19 so as to operate the lever 22 and lower the cap or cover 24 over the hand-wheel 4 of the valve 3 so as to p'reventthfe operator from grasping and operating the hand-wheel to operate the control valve 3.

v to operate the lever 22 and raise the cap or cover 24 away from the hand-wheel 4 of the valve 8, so as to permit the operator to have free access to the hand wheel t to operate the valve 3.

From the above it will be readily understood that, unless the regulator 6 is closed, the hand-wheel 4: of the valve 3 will not be exposed for operation. Therefore, accidental opening of the valve 3 while the regulator 6 is open will be prevented.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. The combination with an oxygen tank having the usual outlet provided with a co11- trol valve, a hand-wheel for operating said valve, a pressure regulator communicating with said outlet, and means for operating said pressure regulator, of means operable by the pressure regulator operating means for covering and uncovering said control valve hand-wheel.

2. The combination with an oxygen tank having the usual outlet provided with a control valve, a hand-wheel for operating said valve, a conduit communicating with said valve, a pressure regulator connected to said conduit, means for opening and closing said pressure regulator, and a pressure indicator connected to said conduit, of a clamp-bracket supported on said pressure indicator, a fulcrum lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends on said bracket, an operating lever having one end mounted on and automatical- ,ly movable with said re ulator opening and closing means and having its other end pivotally connected to the lower end of said fulcrum lever, a lever arm having one end positively secured to the upper end of said fulcrum lever, and a cover member secured to the other end of said arm, said levers being adapted to automatically lower said cover over said hand-wheel of said control valve when said regulator valve is opened and to automatically elevate said cover away from said hand-wheel when said regulator valve is closed.

3. The combination with an oxygen tank having the usual outlet provided with a control valve, a'hand-wheel for operating said valve, a conduit communicating with said valve, a pressure regulator connected to said conduit, means for opening and closing said pressure regulator, and a pressure indicator connected to said conduit, 0:" e clamp-bracket supported on said pressure indicator, a fulcrum lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends on said bracket, an operating lever having oneend mounted on and automatically movable with said regulator opening and closing means and having its other end pivotally connected to the lower end of said fulcrum lever, a second lever having one end positively secured to the upper end of said fulcrum lever, and acyieldable cover member secured to the other end of said second lever, said levers being adapted to automatically lower said cover over said hand-wheel of said control valve when said regulator valve is opened and to automatically elevate said cover away from said hand-wheel when said regulator valve is closed. 1

4E. The combination with an oxygen tank having the usual outlet provided with a control valve, a hand-wheel for operating said valve, a conduit communicating with said valve, a pressure regulator connected to said conduit, a threaded stem adapted to be threaded inwardly to open and outwardly to close said regulator, and a pressure indicator connected to said conduit, of a clamp-bracket supported on said pressure indicator, a fulcrum lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends on said bracket, an operating lever having one end mounted on and automatically movable with said threaded stem and having its other end pivotally connected to the lower end of said fulcrum lever, a second lever having one end positively secured to the upper end of said fulcrum lever, and a cover member secured to the other end of said second lever, said levers being adapted to automatically lower said cover over said hand-wheel of said control valve when said regulator valve is opened and to automatically elevate said cover away from said handwheel when said regulator valve is closed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ARLINGTON L. BURTON. 

